Online Guitar Lessons - Restringing and Tuning a Fixed Bridge Guitar
I'm sure you've experienced it, the strings on your guitar are getting crusty, toneless and definitely need to be pulled and replaced.
However, you continue to put it off, because the idea of having to keep new strings in tune until the finally get "set" is an unwanted headache.
On top of that, if you have a floating tremolo bridge like a Floyd Rose, just getting them in tune to begin with can be a major chore if you don't know what you're doing.
Believe it or not, I've known guys that will just take their axe up to a local guitar repairman and pay him do a set-up every time they need strings changed! This is an important skill all students should learn whether it be through online guitar lessons, or lessons in-person In earlier articles, I discussed tone and the elements that affect it.
Strings are definitely a big part of that.
If you're playing gigs on any sort of frequent basis, you know the importance of staying on top of this.
The last thing you want to happen is to break a string right in the middle of your smoking solo.
So let's talk some string changing mechanics.
The first thing, of course, is to figure out what brand and gauge to buy.
This is a common question that comes up during online guitar classes with new students.
Guitar players are funny in the fact that they all will swear by various brands and gauges, even though they can't tell you why they chose their brand to begin with.
Many rock guitarist, swear by.
008's, or.
009's because of how easy they are to bend and play.
However if you're a modern metal guitar player, this won't work because of the super low tunings needed.
A lot of guitarists prefer.
010's because, they don't break as easy as the lighter gauge strings, they are thick enough to still achieve pinch harmonics, and they're right for most types of music When choosing a brand, many guitar players just go for the most inexpensive one they can find, often because of budget constraints.
However if you have the means, investing in a higher quality set of strings has a number of benefits.
As all students should learn during their online guitar classes, coated strings like Elixers last longer, far longer, hold their tone better, and will not break near as easily.
These will run you around $12 a set but are so worth it.
Once this decision has been made, you are ready to begin replacing and installing your new set.
For a fixed bridge guitar, start by removing and replacing one string at a time, beginning with the low E string.
The reason for this is to keep tension on the neck.
Removing all the strings at the same time without a clamp to hold the neck still, can cause it to shift.
Install the new string through the bridge, and through the tuning peg on the head of the guitar.
Do not pull the string taunt.
Leave a small amount of slack, so that the tuning peg, will pick that up.
You want a couple of wrappings on each string to strengthen it, and keep the string in tune.
Tighten the string until it's roughly in tune.
Placing your thumb or finger on the string at the twelve fret with your left hand, use your fingers on your right hand to pull and stretch the string upward starting near the bridge.
If taking online guitar lessons, a entire hour long lesson can be dedicated to this process.
It's just something you have to learn to do.
After a stretch or two, slide your left hand down to the seventh fret, and move your right hand down to the neck.
Stretch the string again.
Repeat this process all the way down the neck.
Then re-tune the string.
Repeat the process again until the string does not go out of tune after stretching it.
Do this on every string.
When finished, do a final tuning, and final light stretching, and viola, you will have new strings, and should be able to play your guitar normally without any tuning issues.
However, you continue to put it off, because the idea of having to keep new strings in tune until the finally get "set" is an unwanted headache.
On top of that, if you have a floating tremolo bridge like a Floyd Rose, just getting them in tune to begin with can be a major chore if you don't know what you're doing.
Believe it or not, I've known guys that will just take their axe up to a local guitar repairman and pay him do a set-up every time they need strings changed! This is an important skill all students should learn whether it be through online guitar lessons, or lessons in-person In earlier articles, I discussed tone and the elements that affect it.
Strings are definitely a big part of that.
If you're playing gigs on any sort of frequent basis, you know the importance of staying on top of this.
The last thing you want to happen is to break a string right in the middle of your smoking solo.
So let's talk some string changing mechanics.
The first thing, of course, is to figure out what brand and gauge to buy.
This is a common question that comes up during online guitar classes with new students.
Guitar players are funny in the fact that they all will swear by various brands and gauges, even though they can't tell you why they chose their brand to begin with.
Many rock guitarist, swear by.
008's, or.
009's because of how easy they are to bend and play.
However if you're a modern metal guitar player, this won't work because of the super low tunings needed.
A lot of guitarists prefer.
010's because, they don't break as easy as the lighter gauge strings, they are thick enough to still achieve pinch harmonics, and they're right for most types of music When choosing a brand, many guitar players just go for the most inexpensive one they can find, often because of budget constraints.
However if you have the means, investing in a higher quality set of strings has a number of benefits.
As all students should learn during their online guitar classes, coated strings like Elixers last longer, far longer, hold their tone better, and will not break near as easily.
These will run you around $12 a set but are so worth it.
Once this decision has been made, you are ready to begin replacing and installing your new set.
For a fixed bridge guitar, start by removing and replacing one string at a time, beginning with the low E string.
The reason for this is to keep tension on the neck.
Removing all the strings at the same time without a clamp to hold the neck still, can cause it to shift.
Install the new string through the bridge, and through the tuning peg on the head of the guitar.
Do not pull the string taunt.
Leave a small amount of slack, so that the tuning peg, will pick that up.
You want a couple of wrappings on each string to strengthen it, and keep the string in tune.
Tighten the string until it's roughly in tune.
Placing your thumb or finger on the string at the twelve fret with your left hand, use your fingers on your right hand to pull and stretch the string upward starting near the bridge.
If taking online guitar lessons, a entire hour long lesson can be dedicated to this process.
It's just something you have to learn to do.
After a stretch or two, slide your left hand down to the seventh fret, and move your right hand down to the neck.
Stretch the string again.
Repeat this process all the way down the neck.
Then re-tune the string.
Repeat the process again until the string does not go out of tune after stretching it.
Do this on every string.
When finished, do a final tuning, and final light stretching, and viola, you will have new strings, and should be able to play your guitar normally without any tuning issues.
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